West Bengal Tourism participates at WTM London

The West Bengal Tourism is all set to sell Bengal's holiday destinations at The World Tourism Mart London.

It has set up an exclusive stall at the WTM London where buyers and sellers of tourism products, tourism professionals and also individual travellers from across UK, US and Europe meet.

The state is selling specially designed packages at the fair to attract travellers.

Speaking at the WTM London, Bhishamdeb Dasgupta, MD West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation said, "Holiday experiences in Bengal is least explored. From Sunderban to tea gardens in the hills of Darjeeling, West Bengal is an ideal tourism destination. The state tourism department is offering a bouquet of specially designed packages for B2B opportunities and also attract foreign individual travellers from across the world in large numbers."

He mentioned that special packages have been designed for Sunderban Biosphere Reserve, the home of the Royal Bengal Tiger and tea gardens, the forests at Duars in North Bengal.

Packages have also been designed for the sea beaches of Digha and Sagar Islands, and culture and heritage tours.

A special package Sharadutsav 2014 - the Durga Puja Festival has also been designed to attract tourists for the biggest festivity in the state where many foreign travellers are expected.

The tourism fair is being held at London from Nov 4 to Nov 7.

Earlier the state tourism department participated at ITB Singapore where tourism products from West Bengal were accepted well and highly appreciated by International Buyers.

A high level entourage comprising Ajit Ranjan Bardhan Principal Secretary Tourism Department, Government of West Bengal, Bhishamdeb Dasgupta, MD West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation and Sarbanti Sen, Assistant Manager West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation is at The World Tourism Mart London to promote the state's tourism.

This is the first time that the state government's tourism department is participating at The London Tourism Mart with a separate stall to sell its products.

The fair will have participation from nearly 46,000 senior travel industry professionals, government officers and representatives of the international media, who converge to buy tour products.

Speaking on the occasion Ajit Ranjan Bardhan Principle Secretary Tourism Department, Government of West Bengal said "Inbound tourism has been accorded a priority in West Bengal by the honourable chief minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee."

The state government is promoting a bouquet of special packages that include overnight journey to Sunderbans - the home of the Bengal Tiger, Darjeeling Duars and the East Himalayas, heritage trails, Viswabharati and Shantiniketan the home of the poet philosopher Rabindranath Tagore, river cruise, beach holidays and visits to ancient Bengal.

The London Tourism Mart has participation from leading tour operators, hoteliers, airlines from West Bengal, and the state tourism department.

B2B meetings with the tourism fraternity from West Bengal and the government will help identify opportunities in marketing West Bengal and help in shaping future strategies.

The Department of Tourism, Govt of West Bengal decided to participate in three major happening tourism fairs in the world - ITB Asia at Singapore, WTM London and ITB Berlin where the state will have an exclusive stall to market tourism packages and also facilitate business promotion in each of the event.

The kick off began with participation at ITB Asia "The Trade Show for the Asian Travel Market" held between October 23 to 25 2013 to be held at Singapore.

Now with the participation at World Travel Market London, the state tourism department will also participate at ITB Berlin - The Berlin Internationale Tourismus-Borse to be held between Mar 5 to Mar 9 next year.